Mine-catching device.



I '1. SLASKL MINE CATCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 1. 1917.-

Patented Dem 4,1191? 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. SMSKL MINE CATCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION nupsew. 1. 1917.

Patented; Dec. 4, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

attomwg rnn.

JOHN steam, or cronnno, OHIO.

specification of Letters Patent,

NG'r DEVICE.

Patented Dec. 4, 191 f.

Application filed September 7, .1917. Serial No. 190,175.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SLAsKI, a citizen of Russia, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine-Catching Devices, of which the following is a specification. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for catching mines, or sweeping the ocean clear of obstructions placed in the path of a vessel so that 1n ury to a vessel equipped with this device Wlll be impossible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a catching device operatively arranged forwardly of a ship and embodying a vertically movable basket whereby a mine caught thereby may be moved to the surface.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mine catching or sweeping device for a ship wherein the mine catcher s suspended from a power driven float that 1s controlled in its direction of travel at a point on the ship.

lVith the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the bow of a ship provided with the present mine catcher in operative position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same showing more clearly the steering arrangement for the power float and catcher.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the mine catching frame.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation View showing the roller guide engagement between the basket and frame, and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the catching frameshown in Figs. 4 and 5 showing the roller guide engagement between the basket and frame.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 the reference numeral 10 designates the bow portion of a boat having a mine catching device 11 arranged at a suitable distance forwardly thereof and embodying means to control the direction of travel of the mine catching frame.

The mine catching frame includes a float 12 of boat shape, having a propeller 13 driven by the motor 14 upon the float, which motor 14 has an electrical connection 15 with a source of power upon the boat 10.

The frame work of the mine catching device includes depending arms 16 and 17 connected respectively to the rear and forward portions to a rectangular frame 18. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the rear corners 19 of the rectangular frame 18 have ropes or cables 20 connected thereto, which pass over idlers 21 secured to opposite sides of the boat 10 and are wound upon opposite sides of the reel 22 so that when the handle 23 of the reel is operated the rectangular frame 18 may be readily shifted and with it, the motor driven float 12.

A frame work 24, rectangular in elevation, as shown in Fig. 3 depends from the front edge of the rectangular frame 18 and is braced relative to said frame by the angularly disposed bars 25 shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. A screen mesh 26 covers the vertically disposed rectangular frame 24 so as to prevent the passage toward the boat of a mine or similar device floating in the water.

A vertically movable basket is associated with the vertical side frame bars of the rectangular frame 24, and includes a skeleton frame embodying end bars 27 shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5 and connected by horizontally disposed bars 28, a screen mesh 29 being arranged between the bars 27 at the ends of the basket frame as well as extending over the bottom of the basket frame as shown in Fig. 2. A. triangular plate extension 30 is carried by the lower inner end of the triangular frame 27, at each end of the catch basket and journaled at the corners of said plate are rollers 31, one of said rollers being positioned forwardly of the frame bar 24 while the re maining two rollers are positioned rearwardly thereof as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. A plate 32 secured to the lower edges of the side frame bars 24 projects rearwardly thereof and forms a limit stop for the descending movement of the catch basket frame, while the said basket is elevated by a rope or cable 33 preferably centrally connected to the inner edge of the basket as at 34, the same passing over an idler 35 at the upper edge of the frame 5%, thence over an idler 36 forwardly projecting from the bow of the float 12,.and finally I received on the winding drum 37.

From the above detail description of the construction of the device, it is thought that the operation thereof will be readily apparent, it being noted that the motor 14 in the float being electrically connected with a source of energy on the boat 10 will keep. the float forwardly positioned atthe limit'of its movement at all times, whichmovement will be limited by :themopeconnection 25 with the frame 18 upon .-:the mine catching frame and the windingdrum 2:2 upon the boat 10. The direction ofrtravel of the catching frame 11 may be readilycontrolled by operating the handle'23of the winding drum 22, so as-to cause the frame ll to shift and with it the power driven :float The screen 28 in the rectangular frame 2st will prevent a mine .-or similar object within the water from coming in contact with the boat 10,

and should a mine be encountered the basket 27 may bereadilyelevated to remove the mine from the waterto the position shown in dotteddines in Fig. 4, this operation being caused by the winding of the rope 33 upon the drum37.

W-hile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes .may be made therem without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. I

What I claim as new is :1. In combination with a boat, a mine EQopies ofthis patent lmayibe obtained for catching device including a frame work, a power driven float for supporting the same, a source of energy on said boat in communication with said float, said frame work including a vertically disposed rectangular frame, a basket frame work carrying rollers engaging the front and rear edges of the side bars of the vertically rectangular frame, and means for raising said basket.

2. In combination with a boat, a mine catching device including a frame work, a power driven float for supporting the same, a source of energy on said boat in communication with saidfloat, said frame work including a vertically disposed rectangular frame, a basket frame work carrying rollers engaging the front and rear edges of the side bars ofthe vertically rectangular frame, a plate rearwardly extending from said side barsto be engaged by the rearuuirdly positioned rollers to limit the downward movement of the basket, and means for raising said basket.

3. In combination with a boat, a mine catching device including a frame work, a float for supporting the same, a motor on said float for driving the same, said frame work including a vertically disposed rectangular frame, a basket frame work carrying rollers engaging the front and rear edges of the side bars of the vertically rectangular frame, idlers carriedby said float and frame work, a winding drum carried by said boat, and a rope connected to said basket, passing over said idlers and received on said winding drum.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN SLASKI.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

ashington, D. C. 

